Electrical connector module with adjustable polarization



June 13, 1967 5; E L N ET AL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MODULE WITH ADJUSTABLE POLARIZATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 9, 1964 INVENTORS. HERBERT E. RUEHLEM FRANK FROMPOVICZ ANN ATTORNEYS.

June 13, 1967 RUEHLEMANN ET AL. 3,325,771

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MODULE WITH ADJUSTABLE POLARIZATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1964 N N A m mm V 2 W0 W m We. Em A 6 6 E J 8 am 4 Y v. 4 6 W m .6 8 H fl (8 I\ 6 6 2 4 I4 I 4 .I 5 G H II /1. 4 0 F ll e m 8 2 2 8 ww 6 3 6 m 2 Q s M 8 0 r M j 4 m 4 m ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,325,771 Patented June 13, 1967 3,325,771 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MODULE WITH ADJUSTABLE POLARIZATION Herbert E. Ruehlemann, Huntingdon Valley, and Frank Frompovicz, Cornwells Heights, Pa., assignors to Elco Corporation, Willow Grove, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 358,445 Claims. (Cl. 339184) This invention relates to a connector module and has as its principal objective the provision of a highly versatile connector module with added adjustable polarization and detachable end guide features that enhance the modular concepts of the present invention.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide a connector module that can be associated with other modules of similar construction in order to Obtain a precise spacing and offsetting between contacts of the respective connector modules and also between rows of contacts of the respective connector modules.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a connector module with end guides having a locking feature with respect to the connector module in order to facilitate the establishment of a connector of varying length as well as varying thickness for use either with a panel or a printed circuit board.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide adjustable polarizing means whereby a given connector member may be coupled with but one particular mating connector member.

The foregoing as well as other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a connector module which comprises an insulating casing with contact chambers and having at least one surface that has many alternating ridges and valleys formed therein. The end of the insulating casing has slots formed therein which receive the lugs that extend from an end guide which is to be associated with the insulating casing. Certain of the end guides have pins extending therefrom with the pin being a separable piece capable of being seated together with an associated bushing in a complementary octagonal opening in the end guide in any one of eight positions. The pin is of a circular cross-section with a fiat so that it can be inserted in but one position in a complementary bushing which together are then seated in the end guide of an insulating casing which has contacts adapted to mate with the contacts of another connector module embodying the present invention. The latter connector module has an opening that receives a bushing having itself an opening to receive the pin, but has an outer configuration of an octagonal cross-section that is received in an octagonal opening in the end guide of the mating connector module. Thus, the latter bushing can assume any one of eight positions thereby giving rise to many variable positions that can be Obtained between the variable pin of the end guide of the first connector module and the variable opening in the bushing of the second connector module.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of an embodi ment of the present invention showing a first connector module, an end guide for each end thereof with its associated pins and a contact that may be inserted in the first connector module, the first connector module being adapted for attachment to a panel with the second connector module being constructed for use with a printed circuit board and further showing one end guide for the printed circuit board connector module as well as a contact that is to be used therewith;

FIG. 2 is a plan view with portions broken away for the sake of clarity of the connector modules of FIG. 1 in fully assembled condition and about to be mated one with the other;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the panel connec tor module of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the printed circuit board module of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the connector modules of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer tolike parts, there is shown in FIG. 1 a connector module assembly 10 embodying the present invention. The assembly 10 basically comprises a panel connector module 12 and a printed circuit board connector module 14. FlG. 1 further shows two end guides 16 that may be associated with the panel connector module 12 as well as one end guide 18 that may be associated with printed circuit board connector module 14. Also shown is a panel connector module contact 20 and a printed circuit board connector module contact 22.

The panel connector module 12 has a top surface 24 and a bottom surface 26 having many alternating ridges 28 and valleys 30. It is this configuration which will permit the alignment of another connector module with an edge of the same configuration in but one position (FIG. 6) and thereby give rise to an accurate coupling of the two connector modules.

In the present invention, a particularly important problem solved is that of achieving precise alignment miniaturization applications. With connector modules constructed in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to build up assemblies of many connector modules wherein a given contact row spacing of say 0.100 inch between contact rows will be maintained at all times in all modules forming the assembly. Furthermore, the offsetting of contact rows will also be precisely maintained from top to bottom because the various modules can be coupled together in but one position by virtue of the alternating ridges 28 and the valleys 30. Of course, other configurations may be impressed upon the edges of the various modules so long as the complementary or interfitting nature of the ridges and valleys of the present invention is maintained. However, the frequently occurring ridges and valleys of the present invention are preferred since it is contemplated to make connector modules of extensive length with the user being permitted to break the connector modules in order to obtain individual modules having a given number of contact chambers.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the panel connector module 12 possesses a plurality of upper contact chambers 32 and lower contact chambers 34. Each of the contact chambers 32 and 34 opens forwardly in a cross-like opening. However, with the panel connector module 12 only the horizontal portions of the cross proceed backwardly to the rear face in order to permit the contact 20 to be inserted into the contact chamber to be in a horizontal plane. The vertical portions 36 of the contact chamber 34 in the front thereof are solely for the purpose of receiving the contact head of a perpendicular mating contact 22. The aforesaid construction is shown in FIG. 5 wherein a lower contact 20 extends entirely through the panel connector module 12 in a relatively broad horifront of the connector module 14 having a horizontal opening for a short distance in order to accommodate the horizontally disposed contact head 40 of the contact 20. It is to be noted that the contact 20 further includes a locking lance 42 (see FIG. 1) that may be twisted in rear contact chamber 44 of the connector module 12 (FIG. that is provided for this purpose.

It is to be noted as shown in FIG. 1 that the panel connector module 12 also possesses essentially flat sides 46 having a T-shaped opening 48 and a trapezoidal open-. ing 50. As is apparent from FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, the openings 48 and 50 are of -a configuration somewhat related to the shape of the cross-like openings of the contact chambers 34. It is contemplated that the openings 48 and 50 need not be specially designed, but instead will naturally occur Wherever the lengthy module strip is severed to produce similar module strips of desired length.

The position of the openings 48 and 50 is reversed on the other side 46 of the connector module 12.'As in' dicated in FIG. 1, the end guide 16 has a square lug 52 and a rectangular lug 54 that may be slid directly and respectively into the openings 48 and 50 so that the end guide 16 may be simply slipped into the panel connector module 12. The end guide 16 further has an octagonal opening 56 formed therein which is adapted to receive bushing 58 having an octagonal outer surface for a portion of its length. The forward portion of the bushing 58 terminates in a pin 60 having a generally circular cross-section with a fiat. It is thus seen that the bushing 58 may be inserted in the opening 56 in any one of eight positions by merely rotating the bushing 58 45 for each position. As will be discussed hereinafter, the pin 60 is adapted to enter a complementary opening in a bushing that is seated in the end guide of another connector module with the latter bushing also being capable of being brought to one of eight given positions. Thus there is presented many variable polarizing positions such that there can be mating only of desired connector modules.

valleys 66 formed therein. The connector module 14 has upper contact chambers 68 and lower contact chambers 70 (FIG. 4) of essentially the same configuration as the contact chambers 32 and 34 with the contacts 22 being generally vertically disposed therein. Contact chambers 68 and 70 each have a horizontal opening 72 (FIG. 2) for receiving the contact head 40 of the mating contact 20. Also, horizontal or vertical slots are provided as the case may be to permit the contact tails of contacts 20 and 22 to penetrate through the entire casing and extend backwardly thereof.

The details of the contact 22 are shown inFIG. 1' with the contact head 38 thereof beingof a bifurcated construction as is the contact head 40 of thecontact 20. Each of the contact heads 38 and 40 are of a construction generally shown in Fox Patents No. Re. 23,547, No. 2,828,- 474 and No. 2,994,056. Of course, other contact head constructions are utilizable with the present invention. The printed board panel connector module 14 also possesses T-shaped openings 74 and trapezoidal openings76 in the sides 78 thereof in a manner essentially the same as the openings 48 and 50 that extend from the sides.46 of the panel connector module 12. The end guides 18 are utilizable with the printed circuit board module 14 possess lugs essentially of the same configuration as the.

lugs 52 and 54 which are received in the openings 74 and 76. The end guide 18 further possesses an octagonal opening 80 (FIG. 2) in order to receive a bushing 82 having an octagonal outer configuration. The bushing 82 has an opening 84 of a configuration that will receive the pins 60 in but one position. As previously discussed, the bushing 82 may be positioned in the opening 80 of the end guide 18 in any one of eight positions, and thereby give considerable versatility in selecting the precise polarization between connector modules 12 and 14. The end guide 18 also includes a rear lug 86 having an opening 88 formed therein for a purpose that will be discussed hereinafter.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it is to be noted that the connector module 14 has a printed circuit board receiving section 90 that is basically U-shaped with many ridges 92. As shown in FIG. 5, the contact 22 possesses an arm 94 which can make electrical connection with a printed member (not shown) of the upper surface of the printed circuit board 96. The contact 22 also possesses a tail 98 with a lug 100 that makes electrical contact with a printed member on the lower surface of the printed circuit board 96. The contact 22 also includes a locking lance 102 that will be cammed somewhat out of position as the contact 22 is inserted from the back of the connector module 14 with the lance 102 then snapping into its original position (FIG. 5 as soon as it clears the shoulder 104. After the printed circuit board 96 has been inserted in the section 90, a fastener F may be inserted through each of the lugs 86 and then through the printed circuit board 96 in order that the printed circuit board may be anchored firmly in place.

It is thus seen that a connector module of extreme versatility is provided. With the connector module of the present invention, it. is a simple matter to break the same at a desired position in order to create connector modules having a desired number of contact chambers and also to have end openings 48 and 50. The connector modules of the present invention may be positioned one against the other or one next to the other in attachment to a horizontal board. The present invention also provides either specially designed interfitting openings and lugs or the equivalent thereof obtained when cutting a long module strip into shorter strips, whereby end guides may be easily associated with the connector that is eventually produced from the connector modules of the present invention. Finally, the present invention ofiers variable polarizing features whereby mating connector modules will be received only in predetermined relationship to a panel or other build up of complementary modules. The present invention further provides a connector module which is adapted for use with either a panel or a printed circuit board.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. Adjustable polarizing means for a pair of mating connectors each one of which has a plurality of contacts that mate with contacts on the other of the pair when the connectors are mated, comprising:

(a) end guide means on at least one end of each of said connectors. arranged so that when the connectors are mated, the guide means on one connector is opposite to the guide means on the other connector;

(b) one of said guide means having a regular polygonal hole therein whose axis extends in a direction parallel to the direction in which mating of the connectors takes place; and.

(c) plug means having at one axial end, a regular polygonal bushing whose cross-section matches that of said hole and is removably inserted therein, and at the other axial end, a non-round pin of'a predetermined. cross-sectional configuration;

(d) theother of said guide means having receptacle means therein that includes a non-round mating hole of a cross-section that matches the configuration of said pin and that extends into said guide means in a direction parallel to the direction in which mating of the connectors takes place;

(e) the bushing of said plug means being inserted into said hole in such an angular position that said pin mates with said mating hole before the contacts of said connectors can be mated.

2. Adjustable polarizing means according to claim 1 wherein the cross-section of the hole in said one guide means and the bushing on said plug means are octagonal.

3. Adjustable polarizing means according to claim 1 wherein said receptacle means comprises:

(a) means defining a regular polygonal aperture in the other of said guide means that extends thereinto in a direction parallel to the direction in which mating of the connectors takes place; and

(b) a regular polygonal bushing whose cross-section matches that of the aperture in said other of said guide means and is removably inserted therein;

(0) said last mentioned bushing having said non-round mating hole therein and being inserted in the aperture in said other of said guide means in such angular position that mating of said pin with said mating hole eflects mating of said connectors.

4. Adjustable polarizing means according to claim 3 wherein the cross-section of the hole in said one guide means and the bushing on said plug means are octagonal.

5. Adjustable polarizing means according to claim 4 wherein said aperture in the cross-section of the other guide means and the bushing inserted in the last mentioned aperture are octagonal.

References Cited MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. ALFRED S. TRASK, Examiner. 

1. ADJUSTABLE POLARIZING MEANS FOR A PAIR OF MATING CONNECTORS EACH ONE OF WHICH HAS A PLURALITY OF CONTACTS THAT MATE WITH CONTACTS ON THE OTHER OF THE PAIR WHEN THE CONNECTORS ARE MATED, COMPRISING: (A) END GUIDE MEANS ON AT LEAST ONE END OF EACH OF SAID CONNECTORS ARRANGED SO THAT WHEN THE CONNECTORS ARE MATED, THE GUIDE MEANS ON ONE CONNECTOR IS OPPOSITE TO THE GUIDE MEANS ON THE OTHER CONNECTOR; (B) ONE OF SAID GUIDE MEANS HAVING A REGULAR POLYGONAL HOLE THEREIN WHOSE AXIS EXTENDS IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION IN WHICH MATING OF THE CONNECTORS TAKES PLACE; AND (C) PLUG MEANS HAVING AT ONE AXIAL END, A REGULAR POLYGONAL BUSHING WHOSE CROSS-SECTION MATCHES THAT OF SAID HOLE AND IS REMOVABLY INSERTED THEREIN, AND AT THE OTHER AXIAL END, A NON-ROUND PIN OF A PREDETERMINED CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION; (D) THE OTHER OF SAID GUIDE MEANS HAVING RECEPTACLE MEANS THEREIN THAT INCLUDES A NON-ROUND MATING HOLE OF A CROSS-SECTION THAT MATCHES THE CONFIGURATION OF SAID PIN AND THAT EXTENDS INTO SAID GUIDE MEANS IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION IN WHICH MATING OF THE CONNECTORS TAKES PLACE; (E) THE BUSHING OF SAID PLUG MEANS BEING INSERTED INTO SAID HOLE IN SUCH AN ANGULAR POSITION THAT SAID PIN MATES WITH SAID MATING HOLE BEFORE THE CONTACTS OF SAID CONNECTORS CAN BE MATED. 